I am looking for input as to which would be considered the best college summer league in the Northeast besides the Cape Cod League?
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Son's college coach sent several players to the NECBL and the ACBL last year. Anyone have any first hand experience with their son's playing in either of these leagues?
quote:Originally posted by birdman14:
Son's college coach sent several players to the NECBL and the ACBL last year. Anyone have any first hand experience with their son's playing in either of these leagues?
Those are both quality baseball leagues. Another one is the New York Collegiate league and perhaps Coach Merc could chime in on that one. The Cal Ripken League, Clark Griffith League, and even the Great Lakes League here in Ohio are close to the North East as well and are all quality leagues.
One thing to keep in mind is that the important thing is for your son to play. No matter the league, he'll face quality competition. Yes, the Cape is ranked #1 but that does not mean the other leagues are inferior. Another thing about rankings, suppose there 20 leagues ranked 1-20. It is a huge fallacy to think that the players in league #1 are twenty times better than league #20.
Remember that the key is to "play" the game - not "watch" from the bench in a famous league.
quote:Originally posted by ClevelandDad:quote:Originally posted by birdman14:
Son's college coach sent several players to the NECBL and the ACBL last year. Anyone have any first hand experience with their son's playing in either of these leagues?
Those are both quality baseball leagues. Another one is the New York Collegiate league and perhaps Coach Merc could chime in on that one. The Cal Ripken League, Clark Griffith League, and even the Great Lakes League here in Ohio are close to the North East as well and are all quality leagues.
One thing to keep in mind is that the important thing is for your son to play. No matter the league, he'll face quality competition. Yes, the Cape is ranked #1 but that does not mean the other leagues are inferior. Another thing about rankings, suppose there 20 leagues ranked 1-20. It is a huge fallacy to think that the players in league #1 are twenty times better than league #20.
Remember that the key is to "play" the game - not "watch" from the bench in a famous league.
I am almost hesitant to say that the Cape League is the #1 of ALL Collegiate Summer Leagues. Atleast not anymore, I would throw the Northwoods League right up there with the Cape League.
The Northwoods League is a great league and the players/competitiveness is probably pretty close to that of the Cape. With that said, the Cape is still the best league. I bet almost all of the kids playing on the Cape could have played in the Northwoods league, while the majority of kids in Northwoods didn't have the option to play on the Cape. Great league, but I think the Cape is still number one.
quote:Originally posted by baseball168:
The Northwoods League is a great league and the players/competitiveness is probably pretty close to that of the Cape. With that said, the Cape is still the best league. I bet almost all of the kids playing on the Cape could have played in the Northwoods league, while the majority of kids in Northwoods didn't have the option to play on the Cape. Great league, but I think the Cape is still number one.
I would have to disagree. I would not say that the majority of the kids in the NWL did not have the option to play in the Cape League. The Cape League will always have the Prestige as the Elite League. But things are changing. The #'s prove it. In 2010 161 Former and Current Players from the NWL were drafted in the 2010 MLB Draft, with only 81 current and formers players from the Cape being drafted.
both very good leagues, lets face it playing in any summer college league is a great thing. the alaska league was a very close 2nd to the cape for years.
but while those are great numbers,aren't there are 16 teams in the northwoods league. 10 in the cape.
over 200 cape players drafted in the 09 draft, not to shabby. great work for the northwoods league this year too. i'll bet the former northwoods players drafted went to the cape.
but while those are great numbers,aren't there are 16 teams in the northwoods league. 10 in the cape.
over 200 cape players drafted in the 09 draft, not to shabby. great work for the northwoods league this year too. i'll bet the former northwoods players drafted went to the cape.
My guy played in both the Atlantic and New England Collegiate Leagues. From talking to him and our experience as a family; we found the New England league to be well run and a terrific summer experience. However, we found the exact opposite of the Atlantic League; very poorly run, they treat their players poorly and we had experiences with some very dishonest people.
quote:Originally posted by ILVBB:
My guy played in both the Atlantic and New England Collegiate Leagues. From talking to him and our experience as a family; we found the New England league to be well run and a terrific summer experience. However, we found the exact opposite of the Atlantic League; very poorly run, they treat their players poorly and we had experiences with some very dishonest people.
Thank you for your input. I would love to hear more details... Please feel free to PM.
My son just got back from the Northwoods League. He loved it. Host family could not have been nicer. Great experience. Got a real look at what the life of an A-ball player is like. On the field @ 2:00pm for practice, 7:05 game time, multi-day road trips, 70 game season. Very intense.
I played in the NYCBL (2002) after my freshman year, then the NECBL (2003 & 2004) the next two years. I had players in this week returning from the Northwoods and the Hampton league. The player from the Hampton League is already set up for the cape next summer...
NYCBL was interesting - less D1 players but quality DII and JUCO players. Kids had more tools, but less refined. The NECBL was a blend of good D1 talent with a lot of talent from the NE-10 league. Those kids play with wood and a lot of them could really play.
The Northwoods is the closest you are going to get to pro ball... they play in front of huge crowds, go on road trips, play every day (I know the other leagues do too, but with the travel it is different) and the schedule is very long. The competition is strong, many scouts at the games.
The Hampton League is newer and isn't as competitive, smaller divisions has kids playing the same teams a lot. But if you put up numbers with wood, it will lead to other opportunities.
The Cape league will always hold prestige - for good reason. I heard the Northwoods was even if not better this year, but if you go to the cape and do well, you will be paid to play.
Something to remember about these leagues is that not all college players play in these. I think of it as Legion ball for college players. Legion teams often draw from multiple schools and the better players play, so it becomes a high school all-star team of sorts. Same with these leagues.... they are an all-star version of college teams. The feel of these leagues are different because it isn't as close of a team feel and by the end of the summer everybody wants to go home, but it is a great experience and a chance to prove yourself against better competition.
NYCBL was interesting - less D1 players but quality DII and JUCO players. Kids had more tools, but less refined. The NECBL was a blend of good D1 talent with a lot of talent from the NE-10 league. Those kids play with wood and a lot of them could really play.
The Northwoods is the closest you are going to get to pro ball... they play in front of huge crowds, go on road trips, play every day (I know the other leagues do too, but with the travel it is different) and the schedule is very long. The competition is strong, many scouts at the games.
The Hampton League is newer and isn't as competitive, smaller divisions has kids playing the same teams a lot. But if you put up numbers with wood, it will lead to other opportunities.
The Cape league will always hold prestige - for good reason. I heard the Northwoods was even if not better this year, but if you go to the cape and do well, you will be paid to play.
Something to remember about these leagues is that not all college players play in these. I think of it as Legion ball for college players. Legion teams often draw from multiple schools and the better players play, so it becomes a high school all-star team of sorts. Same with these leagues.... they are an all-star version of college teams. The feel of these leagues are different because it isn't as close of a team feel and by the end of the summer everybody wants to go home, but it is a great experience and a chance to prove yourself against better competition.
quote:Originally posted by BobbyTewks:
The Northwoods is the closest you are going to get to pro ball... they play in front of huge crowds, go on road trips, play every day (I know the other leagues do too, but with the travel it is different) and the schedule is very long. The competition is strong, many scouts at the games.
A player I coached when he was younger also just got back from the Northwoods League. He described it exactly the same way. They sure do play a very demanding schedule. It was a great learning experience for him.
